The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-09-28
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for October
1.-THE Centurion's Faith"

SPECIAL MENTION
CapernaunL "A city on the Sea of Galilee,
at the north end. and sixty miles north of Je-
rusalem. 1t was closed in by wall, accord
ing to the ancient custom in building cities,
tho material of which the houses and walls
were constructed being black lava. 1t had a
population of some two or three thousand
many of whom were fishermen The quality
of marshy land in the neighborhood, especi-
ally at the entrance of the Jordan into the
lake, or sea- has made fever OF very malig-
nant type, at times, the characteristic OF the
locality, 30 that the physicians would not al
low Josephus, when hurt by his horse sink
ing in the neighboring marsh, TO sleep even
single night in Capernaum, but hurried him
on to Tarichea In this very chapter, verse
IA, we have mention OF Peters wife's mother
being thus afflicted Capernaum was the seat
of several miracles wrought by Christ; and,
because thus peculiarly favored, a woe was
pronounced against it for It's neglect of duty
(ch. IL: 29.
CenturiOn.-A Roman military officer. All
Palestine was under Roman military govern
ment This centurion was connected with the
garrison at Capernaum. The Roman army
was divided into legions, answering TO our
army corps, varying in size from three to six
thousand men; each legion was divided into
ten cohorts, usually called in the New Tesla
ment ~the band;" the cohort was divided into
three maniples, and each maniple was divided
into two centuries. These last contained from
fifty TO one hundred men, answering to our
company, and each one was commanded by a
centurion, answering to our captain There
were thus in each legion sixty centuries, each
under tho command OF a centurion.
PdtSy.-Palsy, or paralysis, was common
disease in those days compare Matt 4: PAY.
This disease may have been an attack OF
tetdRus, which the ancient physicians included
under paralysis, which brings severe suffer-
ing and rapid death, and which is more COM
mon IN hot countries than with us IL could
hardly have been apoplexy, which US ually do
stroys sensation. Although our sort of palsy
does not "grievously torment" us, yet we read
OF a case in l Maccabees, Q: 55, 50, of this
nature: AT that time WAS Alcimus plagued
aud his enterprises hindered; for his mouth
was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy,
80 that he could no more speak anything, nor
order anything concerning his house SO Al
! clmus died at that time with great torment I"
Kingdom Of heaven The phrase "King-
| dom or Heaven" Is peculiar TO Matthew oc-
! curing thirty-three times in his gospel, but
nowhere else in the Scriptures. In one pas
| sage (llL y Matthew attributes it to John the
Baptist, in another xviii. u to the disciples
! of Christ, and in all the rest to Christ himself
In parallel passages in the other evangelist
! it is generally replaced by the expression
| Kingdom of God" This is also used by
Matthew In one or two instances as an equiv
alent expression compare vii 81 and XVIII.
with xix "a and XXI 81. The two phrases
were undoubtedly designed and understood
to be synonymous Both were familiar 10 the
Jews, but 1T was the custom of the Rabblns
to substitute "heaven" for "God," and Mat
thew, writing primarily for Jewish readers,
conformed to their practice. (Examiner)
CONNECTING LINK.
In Matthew the wonderful words OF the
| SermOQ Mount followed nv
record of some wonderful miracles without
| reference TO their chronological order, the
object OF the evangelist apparently being e
show that the words OF Jesus are confirmed
by his works. This accounts for the "solemI
procession of miracles" in chapters egh
and nine. The cleansing of the leper Tvs "a
took place during Chrlst's first missionar,
tour through Galilee Mark /: 3S-4O, but it II
placed here by Matthew be cause of its exhi
bition of extraordinary power, the miracl
being confirmation Of the extraordnar,
authority assumed by Jesus in speaking Of tn
mount The miracle we study, however, il
in its right place In Luke z: Ito we learl
some things which are not mentioned b.
Matthew.
THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
VI. 81 When Soon after the Sermon Oh
the Mount CaperhduDL See Special Men
ton. Centurion. See Special Mention BE
seeching BY delegation of Jews duke
y. ny servant Literally, my son /; probably
Mention. Grievoasly tormented. case o
severe sickness. In Luke e: A. 81 we lear
what argument was used in the appeal
Saith Sending answer to Him. 1 oiU com,
And he started promptly duke z: 81. This
was ever Christs spirit
LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN POWER
Vs. S, q Answered AS he was approach
ing LORD. Respectful address. Not iOorthy
Evidence OF His humility. Say the pord
Showing his great faith Hdeing under my
self soldiers His thought seemed to BIO thai
as soldiers obey Him, 80 diseases would ODE
Him.
PRACTICAL THOUGHTS
my servant" V. G. We should interes
ourselves in the happiness and comfort G
those who serve us. aye also have a Maste
in heaven. Col 4: l.
2 ~Sick, " q. 1t is our privilege to as
God to relieve from physical pain, but on
duty always to add, "1hy will be done.
"Father if Thou be willing, remove this Gu
from me; nevertheless not my will but thin
be done "-Luke -: AZ.
3. Lord, am not worthy" " 8 A self
sufficient spirit stands directly in the way O
receiving blessings from God God resistet
the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
james A. g.
J 4. speak the word only" " s We shout
be humble because Of the omnipotence of Goo
Sod is the Judge; He putteth down one an
, setteth up another -Ps. 70: Z.
5. $50 great faith" " 10 Strong, hnmblt
persevering unwaverng faith is within Ia
! reach OF each of u.s. "Bord, / believe; hel
Thou mine unbelief Mark 9: 24
G. ~Many e.. shall sit down. in the king
dom of heaven" v. IL Do my faith and m
life entitle me to a place among the saved
"Blessed are they that do His commandment
that they may have right to the tree of life.
Rev. %: Ia
2. "Cast out into outer darkness" " 1:
Every lost soul once had q lifetime OF oppoi
tunity. @This is the condemnation that.
men loved darkness rather than light job
3: 10
8 @As thou hast believed" v. H. Our be
, liefs largely determine our characters, an
our characters determine our destnies. ID
that believeth on the Son hath everlastin
life. John 3: SO
o @Be it done unto thee" v. 10 Whe
, working for the good of others, we always 81
, cure a blessing for ourselves. ~The Lor
! turned the captivity of Job, when he praye
! for his friends. Job 40: 10
10. @Was healed" v. IL. Christ could M
see suffering without feeling an impulse
, relieve it Let us be like him. Jesus
saw great multitude, and was moved wit
compassion toward them, and he heale
their sick Matt 13: IA Cooks Comprt
hensive Quarterly
3 Subject OF lesson for Oct 0: sThe Tempe
1 Stilled Matt s: 1897
I In divorce case at Exeter, N. III.
. the daughter was given permission
4 accompany her father to church, t